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Solar-powered aircraft proceeds to China from Myanmar

Xinhua, March 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered aircraft, left Myanmar's second largest city of Mandalay Monday afternoon for Chongqing of China to continue its around-the-world trip, local sources said.

Bertrand Piccard is the pilot for the 5th leg of the Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) towards Chongqing, according to the responsible company Yoma Strategic Holdings Ltd.

The aircraft arrived at Mandalay on March 19 from northern India.

After China trip, it will proceed to the United States and southern Europe or North Africa before returning to Abu Dhabi.

The aircraft began its journey around the world from Abu Dhabi on March 9.

The Si2 is the brainchild of Piccard, a psychiatrist who flew around the world in a hot-air balloon in 1999, and former Swiss fighter pilot Andre Borschberg.

Piccard and Borschberg are taking turns flying the aircraft on a journey which is expected to take about five months.

The first global flight of the plane is aimed at promoting clean energy and environmental protection.

Si2 is slated to make 12 stops during its 35,000-km journey, in which Myanmar is the only southeast Asian stop among the planned landings in China, the United States and southern Europe or northern Africa. Endi